Tambourine

ABSTRACT

A tambourine made of a pair of synthetic resin annular frames constituting a front and back to be overlapped and affixed to one another so as to form an annularly stepped or channel shape in cross section central area for clamping the skin with the help of a similar material skin-tensioning ring interposed between the internal peripheral edges of the respective frame pieces. The frame pieces are each preferably provided on their respective outer faces along the inner periphery of the respective annular stepped portions with roughened surface portions in the form of small radial slots or grooves which contribute to the resinous frames producing a better triller sound when rubbed by the player thereof. The frame pieces are also each provided with generally peripherally spaced projections and recesses respectively to be complementally engaged with those on the other opposed frame piece and are also provided with a handgrip portion. The frames also have recessed portions for fitting bells within the outer peripheral edges of said annular pieces. The skin or a sheet is provided with circumferentially spaced peripheral attaching holes to receive the aforementioned projections of the annular frame, and the skin is adapted to be tightly held between the respective annular pieces of said two frames. As a part of the tambourine assembly, the annular tightening piece has a stepped cross section with an offset portion to tension the sheet while cooperating with the corresponding stepped portion or recessed channel between the frames, and further includes a suitable handgrip and fastener means for tightly interconnecting the pair of frames.

United States Patent Koishikawa 51 Jan. 18, 1972 TAMBOURINE [22] Filed: July 13,1970 [21] Appl.No.: 54,233

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data Dec. 4, 1969 Japan ..44/ 14676 June 9, 1970 Japan ..45/056268 [52] U.S. Cl 84/418 [51] Int. Cl. t ..Gl0d 13/02 [58] FleIdoISearch ..84/411,418

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,009,467 11/1911 Bryant ..84/4ll 3,029,679 4/ 1962 La Londe ..84/411 FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 1,142,365 1969 Great Britain ..84/4l8 Primary Examiner-Stephen J. Tomsky Assistant Examiner-John F. Gonzales Artorney-Wenderoth, Lind and Ponack [57] ABSTRACT A tambourine made of a pair of synthetic resin annular frames constituting a front and back to be overlapped and afiixed to one another so as to fonn an annularly stepped or channel shape in cross section central area for clamping the skin with the help of a similar material skin-tensioning ring interposed between the internal peripheral edges of the respective frame pieces. The frame pieces are each preferably provided on their respective outer faces along the inner periphery of the respective annular stepped portions with roughened surface portions in the form of small radial slots or grooves which contribute to the resinous frames producing a better triller sound when rubbed by the player thereof. The frame pieces are also each provided with generally peripherally spaced projections and recesses respectively to be complementally engaged with those on the other opposed frame piece and are also provided with a handgrip portion. The frames also have recessed portions for fitting bells within the outer peripheral edges of said annular pieces. The skin or a sheet is provided with circumferentially spaced peripheral attaching holes to receive the aforementioned projections of the annular frame, and the skin is adapted to be tightly held between the respective annular pieces of said two frames. As a part of the tambourine assembly, the annular tightening piece has a stepped cross sec tion with an offset portion to tension the sheet while cooperating with the corresponding stepped portion or recessed channel between the frames, and further includes a suitable handgrip and fastener means for tightly interconnecting the pair of frames.

17 Clalms,.8 Drawing Figures PATENTEnmwmz 316351120 SHEET 1 0F 4 INVENTOR YOS HIYUKI KOI S HI KAWA ATTORNEY PATENTEmmwm 3,635,120

' sum 2 [IF 4 INVENT OR YOSHIYIKI KOISHIKAWA ATTORNEYS mimmmmz 3.635.120

SHEET 3 BF 4 INVENT OR YOS HIYUKI KOISHIKAWA BY Q N ATTORNEYS PATENIEU JMH 81972 3,635,120

SHEET u 0F 4 INVENTOR YOS HIYUKI KOISHIKAWA ATTORN YS Q TAMBOURINE The present invention relates to an improvement in a tambourine construction and its playing quality.

One of the main objects of the present invention is to provide an improved tambourine having a simple structure, manufacture of which is easy and being suitable for mass production.

Another of the main objects of the present invention is to provide an improved tambourine having a beautiful appearance and being easy to handle.

Still another of the main objects of the present invention is to provide an improved tambourine in which the assembly and fastening of the skin or sheet is simple and positive so that the skin or sheet will not loosen, with the result that the tambourine is always able to play a beautiful sound.

Yet a further principal object is to provide an improved tambourine which readily enables triller playing thereof.

In order to achieve the aforesaid various objects, a tambourine according to the present invention comprises front and back synthetic resin frames to be overlapped and removably affixed to one another so that at the internal peripheral edges of said frames there is formed an annular recess of stepped or channel-shaped cross section. The frame pieces are of annular form provided respectively with complementally fitting projections and concavities respectively in opposed surfaces. Provided at the external peripheral edges of said frames is a grip and other peripherally spaced recessed portions for fitting bells therein. The skin or sheet is provided with holes to be penetrated by pinlike projections on said annular frame pieces generally near the external peripheral edge thereof. Also an annular tightening piece for tensioning the skin, which piece is of complementary stepped cross-sectional form, is adapted to fit within an annular concave groove formed between the opposite annular frame pieces. Outwardly radially and circumferentially adjacent the positioning of the annular tensioning ring or frame, the front and back frames have further annular step formations which are roughened along the inner peripheries as by a continuous series of slots or alternating lands and grooves, of which the lands may be slight projections. Fastener means either integrally formed or otherwise, such as removable screws, serve as means for tightly interconnecting the pair of frames.

As mentioned above, at opposed areas of each of theannular frame pieces, projections and concavities to be complementally engaged with each other are provided near the outer peripheral edges for gripping the peripheral edge of said sheet when inserted therebetween. Due to this construction wherein fastening pinlike projections pass through the sheet and enter complementary penetrating holes and also due to the form and mode of assembly of said two frames together with the annular skin-tightening piece therebetween, the said skin and said two frames are firmly affixed in an assembled relationship so as to preclude loosening of said sheet and said two frames as well.

Further, in the present invention, said annular skin-tightening piece is so assembled inside of the annular concave groove framed between the annular frame pieces in a manner whereby the external peripheral edge of the skin or sheet is tightly tensioned by said annular tightening piece cooperating with said concave groove, whereby the entire external peripheral edge of said sheet is gripped so that it is uniformly tensioned without tending to loosen, thereby assuring that the tambourine according to the present invention always plays a beautiful sound.

Further, in the present invention, as mentioned above, due to the improved form having separate front and back synthetic resinous frames, together with said sheet and said annular tightening piece for the sheet, assembly is so simplified and positive that this tambourine is most suitable for mass production, is beautiful in appearance, and rich in tone and durability.

Furthermore, because said frames are provided with the annular series of radial slots preferably adjacent both the front and back annularly stepped portions of their outward faces in the area directly adjacent the marginal gripping of the skin or sheet, a more desirable triller playing is readily achievable. Heretofore, triller playing or roll playing has been known in which, by coating the sheet surface with resin and rubbing the same surface with the inner surface of the thumb or by moistening the inner surfaces of the thumb at one's lips and rubbing the sheet surface therewith, the vibration generated on the sheet surface is transmitted to the bells mounted on the same frames by the intermediary of the sheet supporting frames, whereby the same bells are forced to produce tremol'os. However, where the sheet or skin of the tambourine is made of a synthetic resin sheet having a very smooth surface, the above-referred playing method could not be applied.

Accordingly, in using a tambourine made according to the present invention, by rubbing the roughened surface portions provided along the inner peripheral edges of the annular pieces and/or the annular step portions of said synthetic resin frames with the inner surface of the thumb, the synthetic resin frames are directly caused to vibrate so as to make the bells mounted thereon to produce favorable tremolos, whereby one kind of playing effect similar to that of the aforementioned triller or roll playing may be readily effected.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description with reference to the illustrative example of the invention.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a front elevation partially cut away showing one embodiment of a tambourine according to the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a side elevation of FIG. 1;

FIGS. 3 and 4 are cross sections taken along line IlI-III and line IV-IV, respectively, of FIG. 1; 7

FIGS. 5 and 6 are, respectively, perspective views of the front and back frames shown as they would appear in an exploded relationship;

' FIG.-7 is a perspective view of the skin or sheet; and

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the annular tightening piece for tightening the sheet.

In FIGS. 1 and 2, A represents each of the front and back frames made of a synthetic resin; 8 is a skin or sheet disposed between the two frames; C is an annular tightening piece for the sheet; and D is bells mounted on the frames.

As will be apparent from FIGS. 5 and 6, on each of the front and back frames A, atpreferably diametrically opposite portions of the annular pieces, a plurality of pinlike projections 2 and complemental recesses 3 are provided on each frame piece so that when the two frames are assembled, the individual projections and recesses become engaged with each other and act to help tension the sheet.

On the internal peripheral edge of the annular piece I an annular stair or stepped shoulder portion 4 is provided integrally therewith, and on an external peripheral edge of the annular piece 1, a grip portion 5 is provided and equipped with a window hole 5a for grasping by hand. Also, a plurality of portions 6 for mounting bells D are projectingly provided integrally with the frames, said portions 6 for receiving the bells D being provided at regular intervals. From the external peripheral edge of the grip portion 5 and intermediate the adjoining bell-receiving portions 6, a sidewall piece 7 and a plurality of sidewall pieces 8 are perpendicularly provided, respectively, so that the corresponding surfaces on opposed frames may be engaged when said front and back frames are assembled. Further, adjacently and radially within said sidewall piece 7 and sidewall pieces 8, there is provided a plurality of generally cylindrical internal bosses to be penetrated with metal fittings or fasteners 13 (FIG. 1) for tightly connecting the two frames A. When in assembled condition, the fasteners are recessed flush with or below the surface of the frames.

The plurality of grooves or slots a extend in a radial direction along the inner peripheral edges of the annular main body 1 and its step portion 4, respectively, to constitute the roughened land and groove surfaces.

The skin or sheet B is constituted by a synthetic resin film and, as will be apparent from FIG. 7, is provided at the external peripheral edge thereof with prespaced holes 10 adapted to be penetrated by said projections 2 arranged in a corresponding circular row.

As shown in FIG. 8, in the annular tightening piece C for the sheet B, at one surface of the internal peripheral edge of the annular main piece 11 adapted to be inserted within a concave groove formed by and between the opposite annular pieces 1, having their stepped annular portions 4, an annular protruding rim 12 is integrally provided.

When a tambourine is assembled, the pinlike projections 2 provided on one-half of the annular piece 1 of one frame A penetrate the holes 10 of the sheet B and project complementally into the aligned recesses 3 of the other frame A, with the annular main piece 11 for tightening the sheet being interposed with the sheet so as to thereby overlap said two frames A. Note that those projections 2 on one of the frames pass through the holes 10 of the sheet B and penetrate the recesses 3 of the other frame A, whereas the diametrically opposed projections 2 of the other frame A penetrate the remaining holes 10 of said sheet B, and likewise enter into the recesses 3 of the first of the frames A. Several tightening metal fasteners 13 (FIG. 1) are tightened into the opposite fastener receiving bosses of the two frames. Additionally opposed pairs of the bosses 9, when made of a synthetic resin, may be abuttingly fused to secure the two half frames together.

During this assembly, when the outer peripheral edge of said skin or sheet B is fixed by coaction of the projection 2 with the aligned recesses 3 between the annular pieces 1 of the opposed frames A simultaneously and within the annular concave groove formed between said two annular pieces 9 and their respective stepped portions 4, the sheet B is generally peripherally deformed in a generally Z-shape cross section and pressingly clamped by the annular main portion 11 of the annular tightening piece C, and is further bent to conform with the rim 12 and the internal peripheral surface of the stepped portion 4 of one frame A. Accordingly, thesheet B is uniformly tensioned around the entire outer peripheral edge thereof and does not become loosened in use and the improved tambourine of the present invention always plays a beautiful sound.

Also, during assembly, the corresponding sidewall pieces 7 and 8 of said two frames A abut to form a frame drumlike sidewall of the tambourine.

Between the opposed portions 6 of the adjoining frames, bells D are mounted via pinlike axes 14 pressed into opposed openings 15.

The thus assembled tambourine is grasped by a users hand inserted into the window holes a of the grip portions 5 of the adjoined frames preparatory to and during use.

In alternate embodiments, the grooves a may be provided only upon one or the other of the annularly stepped frame surfaces, or upon one side only of the tambourine, although the preferred manner is to have them onboth sides, thereby enhancing the utility from the interchangeable playing thereof from either side. Also, the form of the roughened surfaces can be by way of slots and recesses or by slotlike grooves and projections, preferably alternating with one another, rather than only a series of grooves or slots.

While the present invention has been explained with reference to one illustrative embodiment, it is to be understood that the present invention is not to be limited to such an embodiment, and various changes of construction and design may be possible without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

Iclaim;

l. A tambourine comprising, in combination, aligned front and back annular frames made of synthetic resin and having facing portions for at least partial cooperative mating engagement with a tambourine skin clamped therebetween; each frame having an inner peripheral flange portion of step-shape cross section whereby when said frames are in face-to-face assembled relation they form an annular channel-shaped recess adjacent the inner periphery thereof; a tambourine skin or sheet of generally disc-shape adapted to be operatively held in tightly stretched condition by its outer peripheral area when disposed within said channel-shaped recess and between said frames; an annular skin-fastening and tightening piece interposed between said frame facing portions and disposed within said annular channel-shaped recess after the interpositioning therein of the outer peripheral edge of the tambourine skin; said frames having a plurality of generally circumferentially spaced projections and recesses which complementally coact with their corresponding counterpart on the facing frame and which are disposed in generally diametrically opposed relation on said mating face portions to grip and to help hold the generally outer peripheral portion of said tambourine skin; said frames at their outer periphery having complemental means forming a handgrip portion and means for attaching musical bell means at a plurality of circumferentially spaced places; bell means cooperatively disposed with said bell attaching means; fastening means for tightly securing said front and back frames in assembled relationship with said skin and skin-tightening piece held therebetween; and at least one of said front and back frames further having an annularly roughened vibration-inducing surface means generally adjacent the juncture of the assembled skin and related annular skin-tightening piece, said roughened frame surface means being externally exposed for rubbing engagement, preferably by a players thumb, to effect further vibration of a predeterminable type to produce added musical tremolos.

2. A tambourine as defined in claim 1 wherein said skin is made of a synthetic resin sheet material.

3. A tambourine as defined in claim 1 wherein said roughened surface means comprises at least one generally annular series of radial grooves.

4. A tambourine as defined in claim 1 wherein said roughened surface means comprises at least one generally annular series of alternating radial slotlike grooves and ridged lands.

5. A tambourine as defined in claim 1 wherein said roughened surface means comprises two radially spaced noncoplanar exterior surfaces on said frame, which two surfaces each have formed thereon a series of radial slotlike grooves.

6. A tambourine as defined in claim 1 wherein said skintightening piece has a steplike L-shape cross section which includes the main body portion constituting that disposed within said channel-shaped recess, and also having a transversely extending flange portion wider than said channel-shaped recess to annularly overlie and help tension said skin in operable engagement with one of said annular frames during the assembly thereof.

7. A tambourine as defined in claim 1 wherein said tambourine skin is provided near its outer peripheral edge with a plurality of preformed holes corresponding in size, number and spacing to said projections and recesses of the frames, whereby the projections project through said performed holes to help tightly hold the skin in assembled relationship.

8. A tambourine as defined in claim 1 wherein said complemental means at the outer periphery of said frames for forming the handgrip include a contoured handgrip area with a finger-receiving aperture, and having wall portions extending transversely from each frame toward and abutting with each other to form at least a partially enclosed generally hollow handgrip and resonant cavity.

9. A tambourine as defined in claim 1 wherein said complemental means at the outer periphery of said frames for forming the means for attaching said musical bell means includes pocketlike recesses constituting resonant cavities formed by radially extending wall portions held in opposed spaced relation by transversely extending wall portions directed from intermediate areas of said radially extending wall portions, toward and abutting each other from each of said front and back frames, and a pinlike axis mounting one of said bell means at least partially within each of said pocketlike recesses.

10. A tambourine as defined in claim 1 wherein said means for tightly securing said front and back frames include a plurality of circumferentially spaced screw-fastener-receiving boss means on at least one of said frames and screw fasteners cooperating with and passing through screw-receiving apertures provided in the other of said frames in opposed relationship to and for interconnection with said boss means.

11. A tambourine as defined in claim 1 wherein said means for forming said handgrip portion and for attaching said bell means include radially extending wall portions of said frames terminating in a generally undulating shaped transverse peripheral edge with said bell means disposed at generally equal-distant spaces at the outermost radial extent of the undulations and progressively apart from said hang grip portion.

12. A tambourine as defined in claim 1 wherein the means for securing the front and back frames together include fused together abutting surfaces.

13. In a tambourine comprising an annular body frame, a skin stretched across said body frame and vibration responsive acoustical bell or spangle means attached to said frame, the improvement comprising roughened vibration-inducing surface means on said body and exteriorly exposed for rubbing engagement by preferably a player's thumb digit to effect further vibration of a predeterminable character to produce added musical tremolos.

14. A tambourine as defined in claim 13 wherein said vibration-inducing surface means comprises at least one generally annular series of radial grooves.

15. A tambourine as defined in claim 13 wherein said body frame and said skin are fabricated of a synthetic resin material, and said roughened vibration-inducing surface means corn prises a generally annular series of radial grooves generally adjacent the juncture of said skin and frame.

16. A tambourine as defined in claim 15, further including a second closely but radially spaced annular series of radial grooves.

17. A tambourine as defined in claim 13 wherein said vibration-inducing surface means comprises two radially spaced, noncoplanar surfaces on at least one common exterior side of said frame, and which two surfaces each have formed thereon a series of alternating radial slotlike grooves and ridged lands. 

1. A tambourine comprising, in combination, aligned front and back annular frames made of synthetic resin and having facing portions for at least partial cooperative mating engagement with a tambourine skin clamped therebetween; each frame having an inner peripheral flange portion of step-shape cross section whereby when said frames are in face-to-face assembled relation they form an annular channel-shaped recess adjacent the inner periphery thereof; a tambourine skin or sheet of generally discshape adapted to be operatively held in tightly stretched condition by its outer peripheral area when disposed within said channel-shaped recess and between said frames; an annular skinfastening and tightening piece interposed between said frame facing portions and disposed within said annular channel-shaped recess after the interpositioning therein of the outer peripheral edge of the tambourine skin; said frames having a plurality of generally circumferentially spaced projections and recesses which complementally coact with their corresponding counterpart on the facing frame and which are disposed in generally diametrically opposed relation on said mating face portions to grip and to help hold the generally outer peripheral portion of said tambourine skin; said frames at their outer periphery having complemental means forming a handgrip portion and means for attaching musical bell means at a plurality of circumferentially spaced places; bell means cooperatively disposed with said bell attaching means; fastening means for tightly securing said front and back frames in assembled relationship with said skin and skin-tightening piece held therebetween; and at least one of said front and back frames further having an annularly roughened vibration-inducing surface means generally adjacent the juncture of the assembled skin and related annular skin-tightening piEce, said roughened frame surface means being externally exposed for rubbing engagement, preferably by a player''s thumb, to effect further vibration of a predeterminable type to produce added musical tremolos.
 2. A tambourine as defined in claim 1 wherein said skin is made of a synthetic resin sheet material.
 3. A tambourine as defined in claim 1 wherein said roughened surface means comprises at least one generally annular series of radial grooves.
 4. A tambourine as defined in claim 1 wherein said roughened surface means comprises at least one generally annular series of alternating radial slotlike grooves and ridged lands.
 5. A tambourine as defined in claim 1 wherein said roughened surface means comprises two radially spaced noncoplanar exterior surfaces on said frame, which two surfaces each have formed thereon a series of radial slotlike grooves.
 6. A tambourine as defined in claim 1 wherein said skin-tightening piece has a steplike L-shape cross section which includes the main body portion constituting that disposed within said channel-shaped recess, and also having a transversely extending flange portion wider than said channel-shaped recess to annularly overlie and help tension said skin in operable engagement with one of said annular frames during the assembly thereof.
 7. A tambourine as defined in claim 1 wherein said tambourine skin is provided near its outer peripheral edge with a plurality of preformed holes corresponding in size, number and spacing to said projections and recesses of the frames, whereby the projections project through said performed holes to help tightly hold the skin in assembled relationship.
 8. A tambourine as defined in claim 1 wherein said complemental means at the outer periphery of said frames for forming the handgrip include a contoured handgrip area with a finger-receiving aperture, and having wall portions extending transversely from each frame toward and abutting with each other to form at least a partially enclosed generally hollow handgrip and resonant cavity.
 9. A tambourine as defined in claim 1 wherein said complemental means at the outer periphery of said frames for forming the means for attaching said musical bell means includes pocketlike recesses constituting resonant cavities formed by radially extending wall portions held in opposed spaced relation by transversely extending wall portions directed from intermediate areas of said radially extending wall portions, toward and abutting each other from each of said front and back frames, and a pinlike axis mounting one of said bell means at least partially within each of said pocketlike recesses.
 10. A tambourine as defined in claim 1 wherein said means for tightly securing said front and back frames include a plurality of circumferentially spaced screw-fastener-receiving boss means on at least one of said frames and screw fasteners cooperating with and passing through screw-receiving apertures provided in the other of said frames in opposed relationship to and for interconnection with said boss means.
 11. A tambourine as defined in claim 1 wherein said means for forming said handgrip portion and for attaching said bell means include radially extending wall portions of said frames terminating in a generally undulating shaped transverse peripheral edge with said bell means disposed at generally equal-distant spaces at the outermost radial extent of the undulations and progressively apart from said hang grip portion.
 12. A tambourine as defined in claim 1 wherein the means for securing the front and back frames together include fused together abutting surfaces.
 13. In a tambourine comprising an annular body frame, a skin stretched across said body frame and vibration responsive acoustical bell or spangle means attached to said frame, the improvement comprising roughened vibration-inducing surface means on said body and exteriorly exposed for rubbing engagement by preferably a player''s thumb digit to effect further vibration of a predetermiNable character to produce added musical tremolos.
 14. A tambourine as defined in claim 13 wherein said vibration-inducing surface means comprises at least one generally annular series of radial grooves.
 15. A tambourine as defined in claim 13 wherein said body frame and said skin are fabricated of a synthetic resin material, and said roughened vibration-inducing surface means comprises a generally annular series of radial grooves generally adjacent the juncture of said skin and frame.
 16. A tambourine as defined in claim 15, further including a second closely but radially spaced annular series of radial grooves.
 17. A tambourine as defined in claim 13 wherein said vibration-inducing surface means comprises two radially spaced, noncoplanar surfaces on at least one common exterior side of said frame, and which two surfaces each have formed thereon a series of alternating radial slotlike grooves and ridged lands. 